Lightning-arrester or line-disconnector.



J. W. PEDIGO. LIGHTNING ARRESTER OE LINE DISCONNEGTOR.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 23,1908.

Patei'lted A9126, 1909.

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LIGHTNING-ABRESTER 0R LINE-DISCONNEGTOR.

Application filed June 23, 1908.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 20, 1909.

Serial N0. 439,886.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I,-Jnssn W. PEDIGO, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Chariton, in the county of Lucas and State of Iowa, havemade certain new and useful Improvements in Lightning-Arresters orLine-Dlsconnectors, of which the following is a specification.

' My invention relates to lightning arresters, and more particularly tothat class employed in connection with a tele hone or other delicateinstrument, susceptible to injury from the overcharging of its circuit.-

The object of the invention is to provide a device which is simple inconstruction, durable, and which is not liable to get out of order.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device in which adouble disconnection is efiected by one movement.

In order to carry out the objects of the invention, I have rovided acircuit breaker which is designe to be attached on the exterior of abuilding and to be operated from the interior.

My invention is illustratedin the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure1 is a perspective View showing one embodiment of my invention. Fig. 2is a side view of the device, and Fig. 3 is a view of the interior ofthe porcelain base, showing the discharging members.

Referring now to Fig. 1, A indicates an oblong porcelain base, uponwhich are secured the operative parts of the line disconnector. Theseconsist of a pair of Z-sha ed members 1 and 1', secured at one end to te base plate A by means of the screws 2 and 2, which pass through thedownwardly turned flanges 3 and 3. The opposite ends terminate in theupturned flanges 4 and 4, which constitute stop members as will beexplained hereinafter.

Disposed above the members 1 and 1 are the L,-shaped contact members 5and 5. These are retained by means of the screws 6 and 6, which arepassed through the discharge members 7 and 8 and which serve toelectrically connect the discharge members with the contact pieces, aswell-as to secure these parts to the base. The free ends of the L-shapedcontact members 5 and 5 are bent upwardly at an angle and form cammembers 9 and 9.

The movable part of the disconnector comprises an insulating block 10 oforcelain or other insulating material, provi ed at each end withU-shaped contact members 11 and 11, which are seemed to the blockbymeans of the rivets 12 and 12. The free upper ends of the U shapedcontact members "11 and 11 are bent downwardly at an angle to form cammembers 13 and 13, arranged to coact with the cam members 9 and 9 on thecontact pieces 5 and 5. The lower parts of the contact members 11 and 11are arranged to ride upon the Z-shaped contact members 1 and 1 Theinsulating block 10 is secured to a rod 14 by means of the clampingmember 15, which is perforated to permit the passage of the rod, andwhich is provided with a set screw 16 for permittin' the adjustment ofthe insulating block wit respect to the rod. The rod 14 passes throughan opening in the porcelain base A and is designed to extend through thewall of the building to which the device is attached, and it is pro-'vided with a, ush button.17,lof hard rubber or other insu atingmaterial, and the guide Inenibenor escutcheon 18, which is designed tobe fastened to the wall on the interior of the building. The dischargeplates 7 and 8 consist of two fiat strips, preferably of brass, whichare close enough together to permit a static discharge, but areseparated far enough to prevent the passage of ordinary currents.

I In practice, the telephone is attached by means of the wires 19 and 19to the lower binding posts 2, which are in electrical connection withthe contacts 1 and 1. main line wire 20 is in electrical connection withthe upper contact member 5, and the ground wire is connected to thebinding post which holds the contact member 5. In order to prevent anydamage being done through a spark between the discharge pieces; I haveprovided the asbestos sheet 21, which closely fitswithin the hollowbase.

When the disconnector is to 'be used on metallic lines, the bindingposts 6 and 6 are both connected to the line wires. I then use theground wire 22, see Fig. 3, which terminates in the strip 24 which isadjacent to, but not connected with, the discharge members 7 and 8. Anyexcess of current on either line will cause the potential of thedischarge members 7 and 8 to become so high that it will leap across thesinall air gap between said members and the terminal 24, therebydischarging into the ground.

Having thus described in detail the vari-' The ure the telephoneis in abridge between the main line and the ground. On indications of anapproaching storm, the telephone can be instantly disconnected, not onlyfrom the main line, but also from the ground Wire, by simply pushing thebutton 17. The block 10 Wit its contact 11 is then forced out ofengagement with the cooperating contacts 5 and 5, and both of theconnections are broken. Moreover, the contacts 1 and 1 serve asguide andsupporting members for vided with connecting strips, a rod secured tothe'insulating block 10, preventing the rota-- tion of the latter, Whilethe upwardly turned ends 4 and 4 limit the movement of the block. 'Whenthe storm is over the button 17 is pulled and the block 10, with itsconnect' ing strip 11, is forced between the contacts 5, 5 and 1, 1.These contacts are preferably made of spring brass, and by reason of thecam members 9 and 9, 13 and 13,'the springsare forced apart anda goodelectrical connection iseffected.

- I claim- 1. In a line disconnector, an insulating base member, a pairof lower Z-shaped contact members, a pair of upper L-shaped contactmembers, a connecting member arranged to-slide on said lower-contactmembers and to effect electrical connection be tween said lower membersand said upper members, and means for moving said contact member-toefiect disconnection between said upper and said lower contact members.

members.

3. In a line disconnector, an insulating base member, a pair 01' lowerspring contact members, a pair of upper spring contact members, aninsulating block supported on said lower spring contact members, andprosaid block and passing through said insulate mg base ior iorcing saidconnecting strips between said upper and lower spring members,

and stops on said lower contacts for limiting the movement of saidblock.

4. In a line disconnector an insulating base member, a-pair of lowerspring contact members, a pair of upper spring contact members, aninsulating, block slidablv supported on said lower spring contactmembers and provided with connecting stripsarranged to'engage certainupper and lower spring contact. members, and a rod secured to said blockand'passmg through said'msulatmg base for forcing said connecting stripsbetween their respective upperv and loner spring contact members.

. JESSE-ll". PEDIGO. \Vitnesses:

' L. H. BUSSELLE, E. P. COPELAND.

